Adele released her second studio album, 21, in 2011. It became the world's best-selling album of the 21st century, with sales of over 31 million copies. It was certified 17× platinum in the UK (the highest by a solo artist of all time) and Diamond in the US. According to Billboard, 21 is the top-performing album in the US chart history, topping the Billboard 200 for 24 weeks (the longest for a female artist ever). She was the first female artist in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 to have three simultaneous top-ten singles as a lead artist, with "Rolling in the Deep", "Someone Like You" and "Set Fire to the Rain", all of which also topped the chart. The album received a record-tying six Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, and the Brit Award for British Album of the Year. The success of 21 earned Adele numerous mentions in the Guinness Book of Records.
In 2012, Adele released "Skyfall", a soundtrack single for the James Bond film of the same name, which won the Academy Award and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song. Her third studio album, 25, was released in 2015 and became the year's best-selling album and broke first-week sales records in the UK and US. 25 was her second album to be certified Diamond in the US and earned her five Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, and four Brit Awards, including British Album of the Year. The lead single, "Hello", became the first song in the US to sell over one million digital copies within a week of its release. Her fourth studio album 30, which contains the chart-topping single "Easy on Me", was released in 2021 and became the year's best-selling album worldwide including US and UK. 30 won the 2022 Brit Award for British Album of the Year.
Adele is one of the world's best-selling music artists, with sales of over 120 million records. Her accolades include fifteen Grammy Awards and twelve Brit Awards. In 2011, 2012, and 2016, Billboard named her Artist of the Year. At the 2012 and 2016 Ivor Novello Awards, Adele was named Songwriter of the Year by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers, and Authors. In 2012, she was listed at number five on VH1's 100 Greatest Women in Music. Time magazine named her one of the most influential people in the world in 2012, 2016, and 2022. She was appointed a MBE at the 2013 Queen's Birthday Honours for services to music. Her third tour saw her break attendance records globally, including in the UK, Australia, and the US, and her album 21 has been listed in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (2020).
Cold Shoulder
Adele Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the things I think just don't make sense
So where you been then? Don't go all coy
Don't turn it 'round on me like it's my fault
See I can see that look in your eyes
The one that shoots me each and every time (each and every time)
You grace me with your cold shoulder
You shower me with words made of knives
Whenever you look at me I wish I was her
These days when I see you
You make it look like I'm see-through
Do tell me why you waste our time
When your heart ain't in it, and you're not satisfied
You know I know just how you feel
I'm starting to find myself feeling that way too
When you grace me with your cold shoulder
Whenever you look at me I wish I was her
You shower me with words made of knives
Whenever you look at me I wish I was her
Time and time again, I play the role of fool
(Just for you)
Even in the daylight when you think that
(I don't see you)
Try to look for things I hear but our eyes never find
Though I do know how you play
You grace me with your cold shoulder
Whenever you look at me I wish I was her
You shower me with words made of knives
Whenever you look at me I wish I was her
You grace me with your cold shoulder
Whenever you look at me I wish I was her
You shower me with words made of knives
Whenever you look at me I wish I was her
The lyrics of Adele's "Cold Shoulder" are indicative of a toxic relationship that Adele is trying to address. The song speaks of the frustration and disappointment that one feels when in a relationship with someone who is not fully present or invested. Adele acknowledges that her partner is distancing himself from her, leading to misunderstandings and confusion. Her partner dismisses her concerns and makes her feel insignificant.
The lyrics "You say it's all in my head, And the things I think just don't make sense" point towards her partner's dismissive and gaslighting behavior, where he undermines her feelings and emotions. The lines "You grace me with your cold shoulder, Whenever you look at me I wish I was her, You shower me with words made of knives" suggests that her partner's behavior is hurting her deeply and making her feel rejected, insignificant, and unworthy of love.
Despite everything, Adele seems to cling on to the hope that her partner will find it in his heart to be honest and committed to her. However, she knows deep down that this relationship is not healthy and might continue to hurt her.
Overall, Cold Shoulder is a song with lyrics that convey a deep sense of hurt and betrayal in a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
You say it's all in my head
You're dismissing my feelings and emotions as imaginary
And the things I think just don't make sense
You're not understanding my thoughts and ideas
So where you been then? Don't go all coy
Don't act evasive and mysterious when I ask you where you've been
Don't turn it 'round on me like it's my fault
Don't make me feel guilty for something that's not my fault
See I can see that look in your eyes
I can tell by your facial expressions that something's wrong
The one that shoots me each and every time (each and every time)
That look hurts me every time I see it
You grace me with your cold shoulder
You're treating me with indifference and neglect
Whenever you look at me I wish I was her
Your behavior makes me feel inadequate and inferior
You shower me with words made of knives
The way you speak to me hurts me deeply
These days when I see you
Recently, when I've seen you
You make it look like I'm see-through
You're treating me as if I'm invisible or insignificant
Do tell me why you waste our time
Explain to me why you're investing time in something that's not working
When your heart ain't in it, and you're not satisfied
When you're not emotionally invested and content
You know I know just how you feel
I understand how you're feeling
I'm starting to find myself feeling that way too
I'm beginning to feel the same emotions
Time and time again, I play the role of fool
Repeatedly, I'm acting foolish in our relationship
(Just for you)
(Only to please you)
Even in the daylight when you think that
Even during the daytime when you assume
(I don't see you)
(That I don't notice you)
Try to look for things I hear but our eyes never find
I'm searching for the truth, but we can't seem to see it
Though I do know how you play
But I understand your game and tactics
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Adele Laurie Blue Adkins, Sacha Skarbek
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gracesuanjin9968
You say it's all in my head
And the things I think just don't make sense
So where you been then? Don't go all coy
Don't turn it round on me like it's my fault
See I can see that look in your eyes
The one that shoots me each and every time
You grace me with your cold shoulder
Whenever you look at me I with I was her
You shower me with words made of knives
Whenever you look at me I wish I was her
These days when I see you
You make it look like I'm see-through
Do tell me why you waste our time
When you I know just how you feel
I'm starting to find myself feeling that way too
When you grace me with your cold shoulder
Whenever you look at me I wish I was her
You shower me with words made of knives
Whenever you look at me I wish I was her
Time and time again, I play the role of fool
(Just for you )
Even in the daylight when you think that
( I don't see you )
Try to look for things I hear but our eyes never find
Through I do know how you play
You grace me with your cold shoulder
Whenever you look at me I wish I was her
You shower me with words made of knives
Whenever you look at me I wish I was her
You grace me with your cold shoulder
Whenever you look at me I wish I was her
You shower me with words made of knives
Whenever you look at me I wish I was her
@future.mortician
Somehow, after all the other hits and amazing songs she’s done, this is probably still my favorite song of hers. The sound is just so cool.
@enriquesanchez9016
True! Her discography is amazing but i wish she made more songs like this. There's something special about it that i can't put into words.
@michelelong5283
It's still one of if not my favorite of her songs. I cannot sit still when I listen to it!
@ogechukwuokpala9607
Same!
@Mrslovett007
I honestly feel the same way. And Melt My Heart to Stone is epic as well.
@destinsansbury4992
@@enriquesanchez9016 agreed! I love Right as Rain as well.
@misskaufman6214
Masterpiece. Brutally underrated.
@barywilliams3653
Adele's voice is simply amazing. The lyrics at this time in her life are heartbreaking. "Whenever you look at me I wish I was her." This song is brilliant yet sad.
@misskaufman6214
@@barywilliams3653 it's not "I wish I was her" it's "and wish I was her"
@barywilliams3653
@@misskaufman6214 Opps. Thanks! I will listen again.